2007
The new 2007 car registrations will appear in dealer showrooms on 1 September and many potential buyers are already weighing up their options.
September sees a huge increase in car sales –over 3 million cars were sold in the UK last year. Consumer Direct, Yorkshire & the Humber the Government funded telephone and online consumer advice service, is urging potential buyers to think carefully before signing on the dotted line.
In the past 12 months Consumer Direct have received over 1200 complaints about car purchases.
Whatever the age or model, buying a car is a big financial commitment and can be a complicated business. Consumer Direct is on hand with pre-shopping tips to help consumers avoid potential pitfalls and help purchases go smoothly.
Consumer Direct’s top ten tips:
1. Before you buy, decide how much you can afford. Include the cost of insurance, MOT, road tax, petrol, repairs and servicing. If you’re taking out a loan, add up the repayments.
2. Look at car magazines and price guides to see what is available for the price you want to pay and check the value of any car you want to trade-in.
3. Shop around. Visit a number of different dealers to see what they have in your price range.
4. Buy from reputable dealers. Look for a trade association sign – this should mean the dealer follows a code of practice such as the Code of Practice for the Motor Industry or dealers that are members of Trading Standards Motor Trade Partnership. The Retail Motor Industry Federation or the Scottish Motor Trade Association can give you a list of dealers that are trade association members.
5. Take advantage of free test-drives so that you can check for comfort, visibility and road handling.
6. Don’t be afraid to haggle. Discounts are often available but it’s up to you to get the price down as much as you can. Buying at a discount will not affect your legal rights.
7. Make sure you’re being quoted on the on-the-road price, which includes VAT, number plates, delivery charges and road tax.
8. New cars should come with full warranties, typically for three years. Make sure you check the terms of the warranty to see what it does and does not cover.
9. Before you commit to buying the car, make sure you understand fully the conditions of sale and any finance agreement, including deposit terms and interest charges.
10. Be cautious when buying a car abroad. Your purchase will be covered by the rules of that country and if something goes wrong with the vehicle would you easily be able to go back to the seller for redress? You may not have the same claim against the manufacturer’s warranty as you would if you bought in the UK.
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NOTES
1. Consumer Direct is a telephone and online consumer advice service managed by the Office of Fair Trading. It offers consumers clear, practical and impartial advice and information.
2. Consumer Direct has around 350 trained advisers in 11 centres based in London, the South East, the South West, the East of England, the West Midlands, the East Midlands, Wales, Yorkshire and the Humber, the North West, the North East and Scotland.
3. The information and advice helpline is available on a single national telephone number - 08454 04 05 06 from 0800 – 1830 Monday to Friday, and 0900 – 1300 Saturday, excluding bank holidays and public holidays.
4. A Welsh-speaking Consumer Direct service is available on 08454 04 05 05. Minicom users should call 08451 28 13 84.
5. Calls to the Consumer Direct 0845 numbers are charged at no more than four pence per minute from a BT landline. Call charges from other landline providers or mobile phones may vary. Please check the rate with your phone service provider.
MEDIA enquiries:
Suzanne Kitchen: 0113 2013604
